SNL Asks Michael Keaton to Play Batman and Beetlejuice Again

Most of the time, the SNL opening monologue is a formality and a tradition, a road bump on the way to the actual good parts of an episode. It feels like something the guest host does because he has to, not because anyone on the writing staff actually had a good idea. And that’s why last night’s monologue was such a joyous surprise: it was not only the best monologue of the season, but the best sketch of the whole night.

Everything begins with guest host Michael Keaton taking the stage and filling everyone in on what has happened in the decades since he last hosted. However, Taran Killam and Bobby Moynihan quickly crash the stage with a very geeky request: they want Keaton to play Batman and Beetlejuice with them. Naturally, Keaton is hesitant to revisit his two most iconic roles, so Moynihan and Killam do what anyone else would do: they break into song.

The song itself is surprisingly catchy, but the things get even crazier as the duo attempts to guilt Keaton into playing along. Their ploy includes awesomely cheesy recreations of characters from Beetlejuice, Batman and Batman Returns as well as a pretty serious invasion of Keaton’s privacy.

But does he ultimately give in and play his two most famous characters one more time? You’ll have to watch and see for yourself.